NZGAC Hunter Education. Enabling better education and safer hunting practices.

• A shotgun is a smooth bore long firearm that shoots a group of pellets called shot instead of a single projectile called a bullet. Shotguns can also fire a single slug.

 

• A shotgun cartridge may contain from as few as 10 pellets to as many as two hundred or more.

 

• Shotguns are used for shooting moving targets, such as flying birds or moving rabbits at close range – up to 40 metres or so.

 

• Shot and buckshot - Shot is a term used to describe the round pellet projectiles fired in a shotgun. Numbers describe the different sizes, with the smaller the number the larger the shot. However buckshot, about the size of a pea is designated 00.

 

• Gauges - Shotguns are designated by gauges: 8 gauge, 10 gauge, 12 gauge, 16 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge and so on. The 12 gauge is the most popular.

 

• The gauge Is determined by the number of round lead balls that make up a pound weight.  For 12 gauge, 12 lead balls of .729 diameter make up a pound weight. However, the .410 shotgun is not a gauge, but a calibre.

 

• Chokes and their effect - A choke is a constriction at the end of the shotgun barrel. The purpose of a choke is to control the spread of the shot after it exits the barrel. (see image to right)

 

• As you can see from the chart, an open choke or no choke will give a wider spread closer to the gun and consequently place less shot in a 30 inch circle than a tight choke (full choke) which holds the shot together and is thus more effective at longer distances. Most modern shotguns are available with interchangeable chokes.

 

• Barrel stamp - Most shotguns are stamped by the manufacturer with the cartridge the shotgun is chambered for eg. 12 gauge.

 

• The ammunition box will show the gauge (eg 12 gauge plus length of the shell and shot). The length of the shell is important because some 12 gauge shotguns will only shoot 2 ¾ inch shells whereas others are designed for 3 inch shells.  To try and use a 3 inch shell in a 2 ¾  inch chamber is to court trouble. Only ever use ammunition that the firearm is designed for. Using an incorrect cartridge such as a 20 gauge in a 12 gauge could cause injury or death. You can inadvertently drop a 20 gauge cartridge  into a 12 gauge chamber and then drop in a 12 gauge cartridge. That is a potentially lethal combination - when you fire the gun, both cartridges are discharged and the consequent high pressure may cause serious injury or even death to yourself or a bystander. 

 

Always check to see that you are using the correct ammunition.

 

• Other issues 

 

A shotgun is the only firearm suitable for shooting at birds on the wing. Firing a rifle in the air carries the danger of some person or property being struck when the bullet falls back to earth. Although shotgun pellets fall too, they do not travel so far and are much lighter. This means they are less likely to endanger someone. 

 

The shotgun is used for fast moving game on the ground and in the air. In general, shotguns are not permitted on any land managed by the DOC, which includes conservation and national parks. This is to protect the bird life in these forests. A shotgun is also used for competitive shooting at clay targets.